Personal Injury Law

Meat farmers prepare for limits on antibiotics

The New York Times addressed that the United States government is now focusing on the use of antibiotics in farm animals. The use of antibiotics to health animals is routine on large, concentrated farms that dominate American agriculture. However, the practice is now increasingly condemned by medical experts who state that there is food safety issues with the use of antibiotics with farm animals. Medical experts are warning that the antibiotics contribute to a growing scourge of modern medicine ? the emergence of antibiotic-resistant bacteria, including dangerous E. coli strains that account for millions of bladder infections every year, as well as resistant types of salmonella poisoning and other microbes.

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) now appears to be poised to issue its strongest guidelines on animal antibiotics yet, intended to reduce what it calls a clear risk to human health. The guidelines are voluntary and will not have the binding force of regulations. The guidelines would end farm uses of the drugs simply to promote faster animal growth and call for tighter oversight by veterinarians. The final announcement from the FDA is expected within months, which coincides with increasing attacks against so-called factory farming.

The antibiotics used in farm animals and their effect on the food products that we eat are a serious issue. As the Chicago product liability lawyers at Levin & Perconti are well-aware, salmonella poisoning and food product issues regularly result in many personal injuries. Just earlier this summer, the Chicago Tribune reported that several people received Illinois personal injuries after a salmonella food poisoning outbreak a the Skokie Country Club.

Follow the link to the New York Times to read more about the expected FDA guidelines on the use of antibiotics in farm animals.

Full post as published by Illinois Injury Lawyer Blog on September 28, 2010 (boomark / email).